Will the U.S. Continue Mediation Efforts After the Sochi Meeting? Ned Price's Comments

The United States will remain engaged in facilitating discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the coming months, stated the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.

In a press briefing yesterday, when asked about whether both sides are still interested in signing a peace agreement by the end of the year, following the recent negotiations in Sochi where, besides a trilateral statement, no significant progress was made, Ned Price responded.

"We were not participants in that meeting, and it’s not for us to speak on it. But regarding the latter part of the question, Secretary Blinken has emphasized this multiple times, including when he facilitated the meeting between the two foreign ministers in New York. We are committed to peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to negotiations between the two countries. We believe that direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and achieving sustainable peace, which by the way, both countries have expressed a desire for," Price stressed, adding that the U.S. will continue to be involved in the process in the coming months to facilitate discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, doing so "bilaterally, with partners, and through various organizations."

When asked whether to expect phone calls or meetings between the Secretary and the foreign ministers, the State Department spokesperson replied, "I think everything is on the table. We will do what we consider most helpful to establish and maintain sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan."